Hashirama Senju curiously stepped onto the island.
The island was densely packed with pirate ships, but surprisingly, despite the large number of pirates, order was maintained relatively well, as if a unique set of rules governed the place.
Hashirama Senju strolled through the streets and alleys, soaking in the unique atmosphere.
His gaze was suddenly drawn to a brightly lit, bustling casino.
"A casino in another world?"
Feeling the itch to try his luck, he decided to go in and give it a shot.
After all, back in the ninja world, he and Tsunade had both been big spenders who always lost.
Before they parted, Roy had generously given him some Berries for supplies, which made Hashirama enter the casino with even more confidence.
Inside the casino, the noise was deafening, with pirates of all kinds gathered together, some rejoicing, some raging, some mourning, some celebrating.
Hashirama found a seat and sat down, then proceeded to win streak after streak, chips flowing toward him like a stream.
"Could it be that after dying, my luck has turned around?" he laughed heartily.
This unexpected winning streak fueled his excitement to gamble more and more.
However, as Hashirama continued to win, more and more people quickly gathered around him.
Among these people, many were steeped in the scent of blood, clearly seasoned pirates. They stood or sat, their eyes gleaming with greed and ferocity, as if ready to devour Hashirama at any moment.
Just as Hashirama was laughing heartily, about to collect another round of winnings, a burly bald man suddenly appeared in front of him and slammed his hand down on the chips.
The bald pirate grinned viciously, the corners of his mouth curling into a malicious smirk. "You bastard, you're cheating, aren't you?" His voice was rough, echoing like thunder through the casino.
At the same time, the surrounding pirates also stood up, their eyes filled with menace, like a pack of wolves poised to strike.
They brandished their weapons, their faces contorted with ferocity, clearly ready to throw down at any moment.
Caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, Hashirama was first taken aback, then burst into a hearty laugh. "Hahahaha, are you guys trying to welch?"
"You bastard, listen up! We're part of the Whitebeard Pirates' fleet, the 'Gale' Pirates!"
One pirate puffed out his chest and declared loudly, his tone dripping with pride and arrogance.
A smug grin spread across his face as he anticipated Hashirama trembling with fear and obediently handing over that tempting pile of chips.
The surrounding pirates chimed in with agreement, eager to watch the spectacle unfold.
After all, in these waters, the name of the Whitebeard Pirates was so renowned that even the Navy was wary of them.
Even though they were just one of the many fleets under Whitebeard's command, this affiliation was enough for them to hold their heads high and brim with confidence in any situation.
However, Hashirama's reaction completely overturned their expectations, leaving the group of pirates stunned and seething with rage.
"Whitebeard Pirates? Are they strong? Hahahaha!"
Hashirama laughed heartily. For someone as easygoing as him, he hadn't paid close attention to those details.
The casino instantly fell into dead silence, all the pirates staring wide-eyed at Hashirama in disbelief.
Even the most daring pirate wouldn't dare to be so arrogant upon hearing Whitebeard's name.
Rage quickly ignited in the pirates' eyes, their faces flushing crimson with anger.
"You bastard, how dare you insult Pops!"
"Die, you insolent fool!"
Amidst the furious roars, the pirates drew their weapons one after another, their sharp blades glinting coldly.
However, faced with the sudden onslaught, Hashirama merely shook his head gently. Then, something unbelievable happened inside the casino.
Countless trees rapidly spread, enveloping the entire casino.
When the trees receded, the casino was gone, leaving only Hashirama standing there, clutching the chips tightly.
"Really, it would have been simpler if you'd just handed these chips over to me," Hashirama muttered to himself, his tone light and relaxed.
He gathered his chips and strode towards the center of the island with large steps.
Along the way, he noticed people around him staring with terrified expressions and whispering among themselves.
"Daring to stand up to the Whitebeard Pirates, is this guy crazy?"
"He's done for, the Whitebeard Pirates will never let him get away with this."
These murmurs reached Hashirama's ears, but he simply smiled faintly.
"Looks like I might have gotten myself into a bit of trouble," he thought.
Hashirama was walking leisurely, contemplating how to enjoy the scenery on the island, when suddenly, a large group of people blocked the road ahead.
This group approached with a menacing aura. The man at the forefront was burly, with bulging muscles and eyes like torches. He was Atmos, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' thirteenth division.
He happened to be staying on this island for a mission.
Hashirama didn't recognize any of these people.
But a hint of coldness crept into Hashirama's smile; his patience was not limitless.
"What, you want to steal my chips too?" Hashirama laughed, but there was now a clear note of displeasure in his laughter, and his gaze sharpened.
Atmos remained composed, unshaken by Hashirama's demeanor.
He dragged out the casino manager whom Hashirama had previously dealt with, and after confirming that this man had indeed attempted to steal the chips, Atmos mercilessly kicked him away as punishment.
"Unknown strong one, they were in the wrong first. I, Atmos, apologize to you," Atmos spoke calmly. However, before the words had fully faded, his expression suddenly shifted dramatically, and a flicker of anger appeared in his eyes.
"But you insulted Pops Whitebeard, and that is something we will never tolerate. You must pay the price for this!"
Atmos ground out each word between his teeth.
Hashirama was momentarily taken aback, then rubbed his chin, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"It seems this fellow named Whitebeard is quite famous on these seas."
There was a hint of amusement in Hashirama's tone.
Hearing Hashirama's casual assessment, Atmos's face instantly twisted into a fierce glare.
In his view, what pirate on this sea didn't know Whitebeard's legendary name? Whitebeard was not only a legend of the pirate world but also a spiritual pillar for countless pirates.
Insulting Whitebeard was tantamount to challenging the entire crew.
"How dare you insult Pops!" Atmos was incandescent with rage. He moved, charging like a provoked bull, his twin swords whistling through the air.
He was determined to beat this man until he apologized to Pops Whitebeard.
However, something happened that he never expected.
Countless trees suddenly erupted from Hashirama, writhing wildly as they surged towards Atmos like frenzied serpents.
These trees were not only incredibly fast but also possessed an astonishing hardness. Even the sharp blades in Atmos's hands could only barely sever them with each swing, sending splinters flying.
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